Ottawa native joins Oklahoma City Thunder organization as athletic performance coach
Ottawa’s Sean Stoqua became an athletic performance coach for the Thunder and the Oklahoma City Blue, the NBA team’s G-League affiliate, in September. Two of the players he’s now working with are Hamilton’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Montreal’s Luguentz Dort.
Sometimes the stars just align.
Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored his 13th goal of the season Wednesday night and the goal carries some extra special meaning.
Caufield scored the goal in Columbus against the Blue Jackets, the same team his idol Johnny Gaudreau played for.
Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed this summer when they were struck by an alleged drunk driver while riding their bikes near their hometown.
Caufield switched his jersey from No. 22 to No. 13 in honour of Gaudreau following the news of his death.
“He paved the way for smaller players and proved we had a future in this game at the highest level,” Caufield wrote on Instagram in announcing the switch. “I will forever be grateful to him for inspiring me and others.”
For that reason, it’s fitting that Caufield’s 13th goal came beneath the No. 13 banner that now hangs in the rafters of Nationwide Arena.